Mayo Mountain Rescue assist three climbers on Mweelrea

MAYO Mountain Rescue volunteers have assisted three climbers who got into difficulty on Mweelrea this week, with one becoming separated from their group.

The team were tasked by An Garda Síochána just before 9.30 p.m. on Monday night.

Two members of the climbing party had become stuck on steep and dangerous ground and were unable to ascend or descend.

They had also become separated from a third person, who had not been in contact and whose whereabouts were unknown.

MMRT, in a report on their social media, described how a full team call-out was activated to Silver Strand, at the northern aspect of the mountain, with two teams deployed while the team leader remained in constant contact with the two people on the hill who were in good spirits as they waited for help.

The first team found those two climbers and assisted them off the steep ground to the rescue base in Silver Strand.

The second rescue team went to another part of the mountain, ascending a col between Ben Bury and Mweelrea, following a commonly used route.

Due to vastness of the area and dark conditions, there was real concern for the missing man so Rescue Helicopter 118 were also tasked to search the mountain.

Soon, however, the missing man was located having descended on the far side to Delphi.

The team were stood down after four hours.

Follow Mayo Mountain Rescue at https://www.facebook.com/mayomountainrescue.